A progressive County Tyrone GAA club is planning to build a new £2 million state-of-the-art training centre as it invests in the future of both players and community, Armagh I can reveal.
And Moy Tír na nÓg GAC’s ambitious plans will, if given the go-ahead, create in the region of 26 jobs during construction.
The building will be sited on the Benburb Road, Mid-Ulster District Council has been informed in a planning application submitted this week.
The development will boast over 8,600 sq ft of floorspace and will address a “clear need for modernisation of facilities to match current club needs”, with part of the existing set-up in some cases dating back about 30 years.
The proposals for the training centre follow on from another application lodged with Mid-Ulster District Council last year, which is currently under consideration.
It would see the provision of grass playing pitches, a main pitch with floodlighting and two training pitches, complete with perimeter fencing and ball stop netting. It relates to “grass lands” lying to the northeast of the planned training facilities.
This latest application would offer a replacement to an existing floodlit playing pitch in the form of an indoor facility, while the existing clubhouse and toilets would be unaffected.
A rectangular shaped building, it would house a training area with floorspace over 4,800 sq ft, and a gym area in excess of 1,700 sq ft.
There would also be an equipment store, cleaners store, toilets, catering area and a multi use room. An upper level plant room would feature above the catering/ancillary shop which is also featured.
Outside there will be an “area of hardstanding wrapping around the building”, while a covered platform will provide a row of seating for spectators of the main pitch.
While no design and access statement was required – nor pre-publication consultations – the club has undertaken both and reacted to responses received.
The statement, by Belfast-based Inaltus, advises: “The building will be single storey with a mono pitch roof. The lowest point of the roof will be along the road, minimising the dominance of the building to the public passing along the Benburb Road. It will be approximately 5.015m in height and will rise to about 6.407m in height along the edge of the main pitch. The building design reflects the mono pitch roof of the existing spectator stand on the grounds.
“The building will be finished in a pale coloured block with glazing. Along the roadside the block work will be broken by a number of windows and door openings and pillars. A landscaping buffer is proposed to screen and soften the appearance of the building from the roadside. The building sits back about 6.3m from the road and slightly below it. The landscape strip, pathway, block colour and the building height and design have been carefully considered to minimise the impact of the building from public view.”
The development would also meet “all current design code standards”.
The statement adds: “It will be well insulated to be warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It will have modern efficient mechanical and electrical systems.
“This is a modern contemporary sports facility and its size and design has been informed by the members of the club and the general public.”
Amendments after feedback saw reduction in height and scale, and a reposition – five metres south – to “minimise impacts on
neighbouring properties”.
The statement explains: “These and other design changes have resulted in a building that is proportionate in size to the site and commensurate to the needs for the existing club membership.”
The existing car park, with 47 spaces, will be improved, with a “more efficient layout” ensuring a maximum of 75 spaces on site. Access points will also be improved, creating separate entrance and exits to the site.
The statement continues: “This proposal is a major investment by Moy Tír na nÓg GAC It is an investment of £2 million
by the club. It will create about 26 construction jobs.
“Moy Tír na nÓg GAC has been a part of the Moy community since 1908. Like all GAC clubs across Ireland, it is wholly organised and operated by volunteers – members of the community that give time and their skills freely to run the club and improve the health and wellbeing of the club members.
“It is one of the most important sporting and cultural organisations in the village. Moy has a population of around 2,000. Including the rural catchment of Moy (to reflect the parish) there would be about 4,600 people in the club’s catchment.
“Moy Tír na nÓg GAC has a membership of about 732. That means about 16% of the population of the catchment is a member of the club. Moy has no public leisure centre. It has no public gymnasium. This highlights the importance of the Moy Tír na nÓg GAC to the local community. It is a health and recreational facility for a large part of the community.
“The club provides sporting activity for all its members. It provides organised sports training for young boys and girls in Gaelic football where children are supervised and taught by mentors and parents the ethos of sport and health through initiatives such as ‘go games’, where children participate in small sided non-competitive sport. As children grow, they are introduced to competitive sports through underage competitions and blitzes. In these they meet other children and interact with them in a sporting environment.
“As the children grow through early teenage years they are introduced to competitive league and championship matches, and the best players are often invited to train with their county team. There is a clear pathway for youth development and growth, and children of all abilities are welcome to participate. Youth development culminates with minor leagues and minor championships, following which young adults transfer into senior playing teams.
“There are senior teams for both men and women, which include firsts and seconds teams. For older adults, sports are arranged for healthy activity with teams for ‘mothers and others’ and social football for older adults. For those that are not inclined to play team sports, there is also walking groups organised by members to keep people active into their later years.
“Health and wellbeing of the body and mind are core themes of a GAC club, and Moy Tír na nÓg GAC provides these opportunities for their community. It is unsurprising therefore that there is widespread public support for the development of the sports facilities.”
The application is now to be advertised and opened for statutory consultation with a recommendation to follow in due course.
